Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About. . .

how we celebrate Christmas, but didn't care enough to ask. (I borrowed this from Sorta Crunchy, who borrowed it from It's Almost Naptime.)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Hot Chocolate - just the thought of eggnog is disgusting to me

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? 

This year, Santa left unwrapped presents around our stockings. It seems a little more exciting that way.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? 

I've gone back and forth on this over the years. As a child, I loved colored lights. Then I thought they were gaudy and only wanted white lights. Now, as the mother of a toddler, I think colored lots are lots of fun. We have blue lights on our porch and white/blue lights on our tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No, but I would if I had access to it. I would if I didn't have a cat who thinks all greenery is edible, anyway.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

As soon as possible. I like to put them up by Thanksgiving, but we don't always get to. We didn't put up the tree until December 23 last year. Sometimes we try to get the tree up before Thanksgiving so we can get our family photo done early and get our Christmas cards in the mail.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? 

This is really tough. I'm a dessert girl, so I guess my favorite is the red velvet cake and lemon cheese cake that I make for Christmas, even though those are technically not holiday foods.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? 

Perhaps getting the homemade Cabbage Patch doll that my Mama made to look like me. This was when Cabbage Patch was still only the soft-sculpture dolls that come out of Cleveland, Georgia, several years before the mass produced ones were the rage.

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes, we exchange an ornament. Also, our daughter exchanges with her cousins.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With our blue and white lights, sentimental ornaments that we've exchanged over time, and an old fashioned Saint Nicholas-type Santa on top. Next year, I hope to start adding homemade ornaments. Those were my favorites as a child.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

It depends. It seems to only snow when I have plans that I'd rather not cancel. If I can stay home and we have things to do and we don't lose power, it's not so bad. I really hated it in Georgia though, because we always lost power for several days, and there was rarely enough snow to play in.

11. Can you ice skate?

I tried many years ago with the church youth group - I'm really not good at balancing on thin blades of metal.

12. Do you remember your favorite gift?

As a child: that Cabbage Patch doll I mentioned before

As an adult: a beautiful necklace my husband gave me

13. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?

spending time with family and getting letters, notes and photos from friends

14. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

I answered this above, but I'll leave both questions in case anyone else wants to write about non-desserts

15. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

baking cookies

16. What tops your tree?

a traditional Santa Claus
17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

both - is that so wrong? I love thinking about what someone will enjoy, and I love seeing what other people thought I would like
18. What is your favorite Christmas song?

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?

Yum - I love peppermint, but I also like the cherry ones. This year, we also got Spree candy canes and those were good too.
20. Favorite Christmas Show?

This is really tough, because I love so many of them. White Christmas is one of my traditions with hubby, though, so I really like it.

21. Saddest Christmas Song?

River? It's a Joni Mitchell song, but it's been covered a million times.

Today. . .Christmas Edition

Outside my window... it is not cold enough for snow to stick to the ground, but still cool enough to feel like Christmas to me (mid-40s).

I am thinking... that this Christmas is going to be exciting with an almost three year old!

I am thankful for... not being as sick as I was two weeks ago (even though the cough is lingering).

I am wearing... a comfy pair of jeans and a Life Is Good shirt I snagged on clearance a couple of years ago.

I am remembering... that I still have two cakes to bake.

I am going... nowhere else tonight, but to my sister-in-law's tomorrow for dinner.

I am reading... nothing at the moment, but picked up the 4th book in the Forensic series by Alane Ferguson at the library.

I am hoping... that this cough goes away sooner than the doctor predicted (several weeks).

On my mind... the few things I have left to finish before Christmas.

Noticing that... little girls get more excited and feelings get more fragile the closer we get to December 25.

From the kitchen... red velvet cake, lemon cheese cake, and a surprise cookie (I hope).

Around the house... wrapping paper, shipping boxes and Christmas cards.

One of my favorite things ~ getting photos, letters and special notes from friends and family in the mail.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  enjoying the weekend with my little family and my parents.

from the Simple Woman's Daybook

Christmas Novels

Do you read Christmas novels? I never really understood the point. I enjoyed Christmas scenes in some of my favorite novels (who can forget Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy deciding to give up their Christmas breakfast?) but I didn't understand why people would want entire novels devoted to the season. Who has time to read an entire novel (or even more than one) about Christmas during December? I purchase children's picture books about Christmas, but didn't have any interest in Christmas literature for adults.

Then one year, I saw A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg in the book section at Sams Club. I am a long time fan of Fannie Flagg, and I really needed a pick-me-up that year. Ms. Flagg cracks me up and it's a short novel, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The book was heartbreaking and heartwarming and changed my opinion slightly about Christmas novels.

I lent it to my Mama the next year. She works at an assisted-living home, and lent it to a resident. I'm fairly certain my copy is now with someone's family and I hope it is in a good home. I saw that it's available at Sams again this year, and I think I may just pick up another copy. Another book that I loved by Fannie Flagg has gone out of print, and I'd hate to lose my chance to own this book I enjoyed so much.

I also saw that Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked has a Christmas novel out this year, Matchless, that is a reimagining of the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale "The Little Match Girl." I am a big sucker for reimagined fairy tales (and fairy tales in general), and I have wanted to read a Maguire novel but never gotten around to it.

I currently have Knit The Season by Kate Jacobs on loan from the library. I finished The Friday Night Knitting Club a few weeks ago, and thought I might continue the series. I don't have the second book, though, so I may not get to this one (the third). It's a full length novel, though, so it won't be finished before Christmas at any rate.

Do you read Christmas novels? Which ones have you enjoyed?

Favorite Christmas Music

I had such plans to post nearly every day this season, but things got in the way. Oh well. I'm feeling much better, though. Thanks for all your well wishes. This seems to be a nasty year for strong bugs. I hope everyone is able to stay relatively healthy for a while!

I recently bought Sarah McLachan's Christmas album and have been listening to it constantly. It was released a few years ago, but for whatever reason I kept putting off the purchase. About ten years ago, I made a decision to each year buy one Christmas album, one Christmas movie and one Christmas book. I haven't done all three every year, but doing this has added to my collection over time, and I enjoy the variety.

a few of my favorite Christmas albums:

• Sarah McLachlan Wintersong - I think my favorite track is River (a Joni Mitchell cover). I prefer the Indigo Girls version, but Sarah's is beautiful too. Sarah just has a wonderful voice, and I enjoy listening to this over and over. An added plus is that my husband and mama don't dislike her, so I may be able to get away with listening to this one more often.
• Maybe This Christmas by various artists - If you like an eclectic mix, and don't mind odd-ball songs, this may be the right album for you. My favorite Christmas song is included - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. Plus, the Ben Folds song may be the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life (but is SO not kid appropriate).
• John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas - I am going to come out as a huge John Denver lover. I had some trouble locating any of his Christmas music about ten years ago, but a quick search of Amazon shows me that it's easily located now.
• John Denver and the Muppets A Christmas Together - I had a really tough time finding this album a few years ago. I had a vague memory of John Denver singing Christmas songs with the Muppets, and had a music store run a search for me. This is also easily available now. Such memories!
• This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday vol 1 - I picked this one up last year. It's a Christmas release by Jack Johnson's label. There are only two songs by him included, but the whole album has the same relaxed feel that his music does.

A couple albums that I look forward to getting in the future:

• Barenaked Ladies Barenaked for the Holidays - As much as I love the Barenaked Ladies, I can't believe that I don't already have this album. Maybe next year.
• Sugarland Gold and Green - I'm not really a country music fan, but I've been a fan of Jennifer Nettles for a very long time. I love listening to her sing, and I know I would enjoy this album.

Handmade Gift Ideas

I know. I am so far behind in the listing of gift ideas. I am even farther behind in the making of said gifts. Anyway, here are a few ideas (or sets of ideas) that might help you out this year. Or you can do like me, and hope you remember them for next year.

The thing is, I worry sometimes about giving handmade gifts. I'm never sure if the gifts are wanted or appreciated. Some people just don't like to get homemade stuff. And in the case of food gifts, especially at Christmas. . .well, there is SO much food around at this time of year. How do I know that the recipients will ever eat anything I've made them? And lets face it, standing over a hot stove/oven for hours making something that will never be eaten is not my idea of fun.

I think the best solution is to make sure that the gifts we give are high quality and are things that the recipients would love regardless of where they came from. In other words, don't give your uncle-who-hates-coconut a large tin of handmade coconut macaroons. He will never appreciate that. But homemade nut-caramels for your turtle-loving mother? That just might be a hit.

• Photo Coffee Sleeve @ The Object Project - I can think of a few people who might like this one, if I can do it this year.
• Kid Tote @ Just Deanna - Ok, first how cute is the name of her blog? Love it. Second, I think this idea can be adapted with some of the other tote patterns I have.
• Animal Sewing Cards @ Chez beeper Bebe - I've been looking for ways to make our own sewing cards.
• Fabric Memory Game @ Chez Beeper Bebe - Too cute, and she sells it in her etsy shop with a fabric box, too.
• Full-length Apron from Tea Towel @ One Pearl Button - I think tea towel aprons are cute, but I really prefer full-length aprons.
• Ultimate Handmade Holidays Master List 2009 @ Sew Mama Sew - All of the above ideas I found this the Sew Mama Sew Handmade Holidays list. This is the link for the master list. Lots of great ideas!
• Sea Salt Caramels @ Through the Camera Lens - These sound wonderful, and would look so yummy under the tree.
• Caramel corn @ Orangette - This sounds like a crispy caramel corn that would keep well as a gift.
• Rag doll @ UK Lass In US - Isn't this doll the cutest? I bet the book where she found this pattern would be in your library or used book store, or perhaps you could find a similar pattern?
• Edible Gifts @ Simple Mom - This is a huge list of recipes from around blogland, including cookies, gifts-in-a-jar, jams, etc.
• Edinburgh Rock @ From High In the Sky - This looks kind of like after-dinner mints (but I don't think it is). I haven't tried it yet but it looks like a lot of fun.
• Coffee Cozy @ House on Hill Road - This might be more likely to get done this year (at this point). I think it would be cute, and those cardboard cozies never block the heat enough for me.

I am also looking through the books Bend the Rules Sewing, Handmade Home and In Stitches to find ideas for this year. These are a few of my favorite sewing books that I actually own and can reference any time. I think the ideas included are gifts that anyone might enjoy.

What are your thoughts about handmade gifts? Do you hesitate to spend the time, concerned that the thought may be wasted? Or is everyone on your holiday list into the handmade treats?

The Best Christmas Tree Ever

With the exception of about nine months after I graduated from college (and college itself, of course), I lived with my parents until I was nearly twenty-five years old. Part of it was economic (I was an idealist and worked for a non-profit), but part of it was that I really enjoyed coming home to have dinner with my whole family. I enjoyed going out to the movies with my younger brothers on the weekends and going for walks with Mama every day after work. And I really loved preparing for Christmas the same way we had always done.

My parents have always gotten a live Christmas tree. Some years were prettier than others. Sometimes we got a tree from the woods, and sometimes from a tree farm. Some tree farms shape their trees better than others. Some years are just hard on Christmas trees. This story is about the most beautiful tree we ever had.

This story takes place when I was an adult - I think it was 1998. (I moved back in with my parents in June of 1998, after graduating in 1997.) Mama and I (and perhaps the rest of our family) had not had much Christmas spirit since 1995. My Grandma (Mama's mama) passed away in March of 1995 and as if that wasn't going to make the holidays difficult enough, my boyfriend was in a fatal car accident about three weeks before Thanksgiving. So both of us lost our enthusiasm for Christmas for several years. My youngest brother, who was born with a love of Christmas, had done most of the decorating in the meantime.

But in 1998, we both got excited and wanted to have a nice Christmas.

Our tree was so pretty. It was nicely shaped, about seven or eight feet tall, wide at the bottom and a gentle slope upward. I think it was a Douglas fir, so it was a pale mint green with delicate needles. It was full. Such a beautiful tree.

Sometimes we used colored lights, but this year we chose a strand of white lights. We couldn't find a lot of our ornaments, only the red velvety bows that we tied onto the ends of the branches.

Since we couldn't find most of our ornaments and I had become obsessed with recipes, Mama and I decided to make gingerbread men to hang on the tree. Martha Stewart had a syndicated column in our paper (the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), and we found the recipe specifically designed for gingerbread ornaments there. We always had ingredients for baking in the house. We were set.

Making the ornaments was a fun experience, but nothing compared to seeing the gingerbread men hanging from the tree. It was the perfect tree - the traditional tree that I imagine when I think back on Christmas trees from my parents' home.

We didn't take a lot of pictures back then - not by my standards today. It was a few weeks before Christmas, and it was well past dark when we finished. We went to bed, intending to take the pictures later.

The next morning, I entered the living room, anticipating our beautiful tree, only to find the floor littered with little headless gingerbread men. The heads were still hanging from the tree. I can laugh about this now (a little) but at the time, I am pretty sure I sat down and cried.

So I have no photo of our beautiful tree. I am trying to draw the scene, but it hasn't worked so far. I'm trying to get over my hangups about my drawing abilities, since I believe that all children are born with the ability and confidence to draw.

I've had beautiful trees since, but I haven't had the courage to try gingerbread ornaments again. And I think Martha Stewart's crafts are beautiful, but I may never trust her again.

Family Connection

I can't remember where I read about this Family Connection Writing Center, but I saw it on someone's blog in November (sorry!). It appears to be based on an idea in Amanda Soule's book Handmade Home. As a long time letter writer, I love the idea of a little corner spot to store all your correspondence related items. 

What really struck me about this article though, was this:

When we spend our days with small children, so much of life has to be focused on the here and now that we sometimes forget we're actually building long-term relationships. We forget, or just don't even think about, the fact that our children will one day be grownups with whom we will have lifelong, grownup relationships. And we will have those grownup relationships for a whole lot longer than we have small children in the house!

I think it is SO important that we remember that these little people we love and tend to and get frustrated with and feed and bath and clothe will not be there forever. They are going to get bigger. They are going to change. And they are going to remember the lessons that we teach them when they are with us.

So if we teach them that our relationships with our older relatives are not important, then they may not see their relationships with us as important when they are adults. And if we don't treat our children with respect now, what kind of relationship will we have with them when they are adults?

I'm not suggesting that we should "be friends" with our children. As parents, we are supposed to teach our children and train them. So, I'm definitely not talking about letting your kid do whatever they want just so they will like you. (I suspect if you do, your kid won't respect you.) But there is a line between "befriending" your child and having fun with your child.

I know that I want to have a relationship with my child when she's an adult. I have a wonderful relationship with my parents. They were strict and had expectations of me. We also had a good time and made wonderful memories. Now that I am adult, they let me be an adult and make my decisions. We enjoy each other's company and we are still making memories.

In a sense, this little paragraph sums up what my whole blog is about: building family relationships.

What do you think? How are you building relationships in your family?

Gift Ideas for my Todder, 2009 edition

This time last year, I posted my idea list of things I thought would make good gifts for my daughter Abigail. It's getting to be that time of year, so I'm planning once again for Christmas (and her birthday coming in January). You can find my ideas for last year here.

Last year I was very ambitious, and listed all sorts of handmade things I wanted to make for her. I still haven't completed most of them. And while I have lots of ideas still, I know I'm running out of time. Hopefully some of my thoughts on what we believe will make good gifts for our almost-three-year old will give you some ideas for any toddlers you know.

• more train components for her wooden train set (not Thomas)
• a doll (she specifically asked Santa for one, and has been adamant that he is bringing her babies)
• more play silks
• art supplies (glitter glue, paint, nice art paper - I'm getting ideas from Young At Art by Susan Striker)
• dress up clothes
• doll clothes
• wooden play food
• Olivia books (by Ian Falconer - we have none, surprisingly)
• sewing cards
• art easel (I especially like the one from Melissa and Doug that has clips to hang our art paper from)
• Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales illustrated by Lucy Cousins - Yes, Lucy Cousins from Maisy fame. I don't care for Maisy, but I love Cousins' style. She has the best Mother Goose book I've ever seen, but it's unfortunately out-of-print. This fairy tale book is new and I can't wait to see it in person.
• original Memory game
• family memory game (with family photos)
• handmade blocks (really, I will eventually finish these)
• Olivia quilt (I bought the fabric in June, cut it out several weeks ago - doubt I'll finish by Christmas)
• sock monkey (handmade, of course)
• little red wagon
• wooden play kitchen

Of course, she won't get all of this. These are just some of my thoughts as we've made the list of things we want to give her and given suggestions to our loved ones who ask. I really would like to finish the quilt, but after my pot fiasco, I'm worried about running my sewing machine!

What kinds of things are you considering this year for your children or children you know?